Grandy, return specialist, returns to Ole Miss | Ole Miss Sports

Saturday night will mark the first time Central Arkansas has played against a BCS conference opponent since moving from Division II to the Football Championship Sub-division (formerly I-AA) six years ago.

While that will be a first for the Bears, it won’t be a first for UCA wide receiver Jesse Grandy, a Pine Bluff native, who played two seasons at Ole Miss before transferring back to his home state.

Grandy led the Bears in receiving last year with 49 catches for 788 yards and nine touchdowns. He was second-team All-Southland Conference. He averaged 21.6 yards on kick returns and ranked in the SLC’s top 10 in receiving yards, punt returns, scoring, receptions per game and all-purpose yardage.

“I’m very excited. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. We could have opened up the schedule with anybody. We could play New Mexico or somebody in New Hampshire. It’s a chance for me to go back and see a lot of old friends and have a small, little reunion,” Grandy said.

At Ole Miss, Grandy had 24 catches over two years. He ranked third in the SEC in punt returns as a sophomore with a 14.7-yard average and also averaged 20.9 yards on kick returns.